Machine for making spring knitting-needles.



16 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ANDRZW. a munm C 7 FHMO- -II'NOGRAPHERS. WASHINGTON. D. c

Patented Aug. 10. 1909.

J. MAITLAND, DEGD.

1. MAITLAND, nxncuwmx. 1 MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRING KNITTING NEEDLES.

, APPLIOATION FILED 00T.18,1907. 8, Patented, Aug. 10, 1909.

'16 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor,

ANDIRW a. himm in. Puomumockivnzns. WASDUIIDYOF. o. a

J. MAITLAND, DEGD. 1. HAITI-AND, nxmmmmx;

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRING KNITTING NEEDLES. APPLICATION FILED ocT.1a;19o'1.

930,978. Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witness es 1320 72 to?" DIN. I, GRAHAM W "mo-mum mmmc. D- C- J.MAITLAND, DEGD.

1. MAITLAND, nxmmwmx. V MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRING KNITTING NEEDLES.APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18,1907.

' 930,978. N 4 Patented Aug. 10,1909.

7 1e sums-sum;

.Z'nvento 7",

diwrngy.

IINDREW. 8. CM" CO. PIOOYQLITNOGIAFKERI. WASNMG'GN. D. c.

J. MAITLAND, DEGD.

1. HAITLAND, nxnou'rmx.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRING KNITTING NEEDLES. APPLIUATION rum) 00m.18,1907.

Patented Aug. 10.1909.

16 SHBET8-SHBET 5.

I I I l I ZQinesses fizz/0727507;

iNDAEw. a GRAMAM 00., FNUIO-UTIIOBRAPHERS. WABHMGION, D. 0.

J. MAITLAND, DEGD. 1. MAITLAND, EXBOUTBIX. MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRINGKNITTING NEEDLES.. AIPPLIOATION FILED 001:. 18,1907.

930,978. Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

I72 Danton I. MAITLAKD, BXEOUTEIX.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

16 SHEETS-SHEET '7.

7- "-& dd 72%.

, J. MAITLAND, DEGDI MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRING KNITTING NEEDLES.APPLICATION FILED OUT. 13, 1907- 930,978.

J. MAITLAND, DEGD. I. MAITLAND, EXIBOUTRIX. MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRINGKNITTING NEEDLES.

APPLIOATION FILED. OOT. 18,1907. 930,978. Patented Aug. 10,1909.

16 SHEETSSHEET 8.

. I EL: 5 I I I F' zsQ @D "15 fizvenfor;

afiforney.

\ ANDREW. a munm co, PHDTWUYHDGRAPIIERS. wAsmNGroN. m A

J. MAITLAND, DEGD. I. MAITLAND, BXEUUTRIX. MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRINGKNITTING NEEDLES. APPLICATION FILED OQT. 18, 1907.

930,978. Patented Aug. 10.1909.

16 SHBETS-BHEET 9.

17206722507", mam/A J. MAITLAND, DEOD'. I. HAITI-AND, EXBOUIBIX. MACHINEFOR MAKING SPRING KNITTING NEEDLES.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 18, 1901.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

J. MAITLAND, D-BGD.

I. MAITLAND, EXEOUTRIX. v MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRING KNITTING NEEDLES.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 18. 1907.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

Inventor:

wat 0772?? ANDREW. cumin 00.; PMTgM-TINOGRAPHHB. WASHINGTON. a a

J. MAITLAND, DECD. I. MAITLAND, BXBGUTRIX.

MACHINE FOR MAKINGSPRING KNITTING NEBDLES.-

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 18, 1907.

Patented Au 101909.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

ANDREW. a GRAHAM 00.. PNOWLIIIIOGRAPHERS. WASHINGTON. n. c.

v I 721/671 5073 m uflfioriw J. MAITLAND, DEOD. I. MAITLAND, nxnou'rmx.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1907.

- Patented Aug. 10. 1909.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

Inventor,

ANDREW. a. mmwn 00.. mow-unloamwm. WAsmuuYoN. D. a

I J. MA ITLAN'D, DBGD.

I. MAI-TLAND, EXEOUTRIX. MAOHINE FOR MAKING SPRING KNITTING NEEDLES,APPLIOATION FILED 00T-. 18,1907.

930,978. Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 14.

Ammzw, a. GRAHAM 00,. wuoro-umomumixs. wAsummouhn c.

J. MAITLAND, DEGD. I. MAITLAND, EXEOUTRIX. MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRINGKNITTING NEEDLES.

APPLIOATION FILED DOT. 18,1907.

' Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 15.

J. MAITLAND mom. I. HAITLAHD, EXEOUTBIX. MACHINE FOR MAKINGSIBINGKNITTING NEEDLES.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 16.

. m& RN

Patented Aug. 10. 1909.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 18, 1907.

ST W 0.0.0 QM MN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MAITLAND, OF COHOES, NEW YORK IDAMA'ITLAN'D EXECUTRIX OF SAID JOHN1 MAITLAND, DECEASED.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPRING KNITTING-NEEDLES.

Specification o2 Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Application filed October 18, 1907. SerialNo. 398,083.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MAITLAND, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Gohoes, in the county of Albany and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forMaking Spring Knitting-Needles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of spring knitting needles, ofthe type used in knitting machines, and the object of my invention is toconstruct a machine into which the wire may be-fed at one end, out 01fat suitable lengths and the needle blanks carried automaticallyalongthrough the machine and subjected to successive processes ofmilling, punching the eye hole, grinding, sharpening, shaping andflattening, and discharged at the other end of the machine finishedneedles. I accomplish this objectby means of the mechanism illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my machine. Fig. 2 is a side view of mymachine, showing the operating side. Fig. 3 is a front view of theneedle band and its supports, other parts.

omitted. Fig. 4 is an isometrical view of a portion of the needle band.Fig. 5 is a side view of my machine, showing the driving side. Fig. 6 isan end view of the feeding end. Fig. 7 is an end view of the finishingend. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a.

part of my machine, at the feeding end. Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan viewof the remaining portion of my machine at the finishing end. Figs. 10and 11 are enlarged cross sections on line AA of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 showingthe bending and cutting device in a raised position and Fig. 11 showingthe same in a lowered position. Fig. 12 is a cross section online B BFig. 10. Fig. 13 is an enlarged side view of the cutting device. Fig. 14is an enlarged plan view of the cams and levers operating the bendingand cutting devices. Fig. 15 is a horizontal cross section on line CCFig. 14. Fig. 16 is a horizontal cross section on line DD Fig. 14. Fig.17 is a detail plan view of the wire guide and part of the needle band.

Fig. 18 is a front view of the wire guide and part of the needle band.Fig. 19 is a cross section on line EE Fig. 17. Fig. 20 is a crosssection-on lin'e'FF Fig. 17. Fig. 21 is a view of'the needle blank as itappears after the bending and cutting. Fig. 22 is turning device.

an enlarged cross section on line G-G Fig. 8. Fig. 23 is a horizontalsection on line HH Fig. 22. Fig. 24 is a detail plan view showing aportion of needle band, and device showing the needle lengthwise. Figs.25 and 26 are detail cross sections showing the operation of the millingdevice. Fig. 27 is an inverted plan view of the end of the holdingfinger. Fig. 28 is a view of needle as it appears after the millingoperation. Fig. 29 is an enlarged cross section on line Figs. 30, 31 and32 are detail plan views showing the needle guides. Fig. 33 is a crosssection on line K-K Fig. 30. Fig. '34 is a front view of the needleguide. Fig. 85 is a cross section on line LL Fig. 31. Fig. 36 is anenlarged cross section on line M-M Fig. 8. Fig. 37 is a front view ofthe eye punch. Fig. 38 is a horizontal section on line NN Fig. 36. Fig.39 is a detail cross section showing the punch and holding finger in araised position. Fig. 40 is a vertical section on line OO Fig. 39. Figs.41 and 42 are views of the needle as it appears after the eye is punchedin it. Fig. 43 is an enlarged cross section on line PP Fig. 9. Fig. 44is a horizontal section on line Q-Q Fig. 43. Fig. 45 is a detail viewshowing operation of the 3rd grinder. Fig. 46 is a detail view showingoperation of 2nd grinder. Fig. 47 is a vertical section on line SS Fig.49. Fig. 53 is a vertical section on line TT Fig. 50. Fig. 54 is avertical section on line UU Fig. 49. Fig. 55

is an enlarged cross section on line VV Fig. 9. Fig. 56 is a horizontalsection on line WW Fig. 55. Fig. 57 is a horizontal section .on line X-XFig. 55. Fig. 58 is an enlarged horizontal section on line YY Fig. 55.Fig. 59 is a side view of the beard Fig. 60 is an isometrical view ofthe beard turning device support. Figs. .61 and 62 are detail side viewsof beard turning device. Fig.6? is a detached side view of beard turner.Fig. 64 is an end view of the beard turning and shaping de vice. Fig. 65is a side view of the beard shaping device. Fig. 66 is a section on lineZ-Z Fig. 65. Fig. 67 is a detail side view showing the manner in whichthe beard is shaped. Fig. 68 is a side view of a needle ,line RR Fig.46. Fig. 48 is a side view of the presser bar.

shover. Figs. 69 and 70 are views of needles as they appear after havingbeen operated upon respectively by the beard turning and shapingdevices. Fig. 71 is an enlarged front view of the flattening and cuttingdevices. Fig. 72 is a side view of the flattening and cutting devices.Fig. 73 is an enlarged vertical cross section on line a-a Fig. 72. Fig.74: is an enlarged vertical transverse section on line bb Fig. 71. Fig.75 is an enlarged side view of the needle band moving mechanism. Fig. 76is an enlarged section on line 0@ Fig. 75. Fig. 77 is an enlargedsection on line cZ-d Fig. 76. Figs. 78 and 79 are enlarged views of theneedle after being flattened. Fig. 80 is an enlarged view of thefinished needle.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In describing my machine, I will call the operating side of the machine,shown in Fig. 2, on which side the operations in making the needle takeplace, the front of the machine. The side shown in Fig. 5, which I havecalled the driving side and from which the movements of the variousoperating devices are driven, I will call the rear of the machine.

Referring to Fig. 1, the wire from which the needles are made is fedinto the front of the machine by a bobbin or reel as usually used inwire drawing factories by which it may be kept straight and fed at theproper lengths and times. After the wire is fed into the machine it isbent down on one end forming a shank, as shown in Fig. 21. The needleblank is designated as 1. An endless band, 2, is carried around theentire front part of the machine. At equal spaces in the endless band,2, are the notches 3, as shown in Fig. 4:. The needle .blanks, as soonas they are cut from the wire, are dropped automatically in the notches3, in the endless band, 2, and are carried through the machine in saidnotches. The movement of this endless band is so timed that. it willpresent each needle at the proper time and place for each operation inthe movement of the machine, and all of the movements of the machine aresynchronized, so that no operation will take place while the band ismoving, and the band will lie still three-fourths of the time and willpresent a needle at the proper time and place for each operation of themachine, and when the needle is finished will deposit it on the table atthe end of the machine, complete in finish and form. The shank of theneedle blank is for the purpose of holding it firmly by devices for thatpurpose, during the various operations, and for other purposes as willmore fully appear.

The principal operations in making the needle after the blank is cutfrom the wire, are the milling by which a portion is cut down, producinga flattened surface, and

reducing it to the proper shape and thick ness, which is done by two ormore milling wheels, the band carrying the needle from ,one millingwheel to the next. The needle is then carried under the punch and isheld firmly while the eye is punched into the needle. The needle is thencarried along to the grinders, where it is revolved while the grindingtakes place. As many grinders may be used as are necessary to reduce theneedle to proper form. It is then carried along to the bender where thepoint is bent over the eye and then to the shaper, where the beard isreduced to the proper shape. The body of the needle is then flattenedand the sides corrugated. The shank is then cut oil' and the needledischarged on the end of the table in a finished form. These several ope'ations will be successfully described.

As already stated, the wire is fed into the machine by any suitablemeans arranged to feed it in proper lengths and at proper times.

Referring to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, 4; is a lever pivoted at 5 to the sideof the bracket 1%. This lever is called the bending lever and is for thepurpose of bending the wire and forming the shank, 6, as shown in Fig.21. This is done by the wire being fed into the machine, as shown inFig. 10, over the block, 7, leaving a. suflieient length extending overthe edge of the block, 7, to form the shank, (3.

10 is a projection or block on the end of the lever l; 28 is an arm alsopivoted at one end at 29, to the bracket 14:.

8 is an adjusting screw in arm, 28, by which said arm rests upon the endof lever 1-.

30 is a spring holding the arm, 28, firmly a ainst the principal part ofthe lever l. 9 is a block attached to said arm, 28, and arranged so thatwhen one end of the lever l, carrying the block 10 descends, the springwill cause the bracket, 29, and block, 9, to also descend until theblock 9 rests upon the wire over the block 7 and holds the wire firmlyupon the block 7, when the end of the levert continues to descend am]the block 10 coming into contact with the end of the wire bends it downover the block, 7, forming the shank, 9. lVhen the end of the lever aascends, it will come in contact with the end of the said screw, 8, andraise the arm, 28, and the block, 9, so as to release the wire. Butbefore this is done, the lever, 12, turning upon the pivot, 13, willbring down the cutting knife, 11, and will cut the wire off at thedesired length, working against the stationary cutting knife, 15. Thecutting knife, 11, is mounted upon the lever 12, adjustably, so as toprovide for the cutting of the needle blanks of desired lengths byregulating the time of the stroke by the screw as shown in Fig. 13. Thelevers, 4- and 12, are operated by cams and intermediate connectionsfrom the driving shaft under the machine.

32 is the principal driving shaft running the entire length of themachine.

33 is an auxiliary shaft, receiving its motion from the principal shaft,32, and operating certain parts of the machine.

19 is a cam attached to the shaft, 32.

20 is a roller held by a spring in contact with the cam 19. The roller20 is mounted upon the end of the arm 21.

21 is an arm attached to the rocking shaft, 18.

18 is a rocking shaft operating the arm 17, and 17 is the arm connectingthe rocking shaft with the rod, 16, which is attached to lever, 4, sothat when the shaft, 32, revolves the arm, 21, will turn the rockingshaft, 18, partly around. This will raise the connecting rod, 16, bymeans of the arm, 17, and willoperate the lever, 4, which is the bendinglever, so as to bend the wire, forming the shank, 6, of the needleblank. At the same time the cam, 22, by means of the roller 23, the arm,24, necting arm, 26, the rod, 14, and the lever, 12, operates, thecutter, 11. This is adjusted to operate so that the wire will be outWhile the blocks, 7 9 and 10, still hold the wire upon the block 7 andas the lever, 4,.releases the blocks, 9 and 10, from the wire on'block,7, the endless band, 2, will move, carrying the needle blank for thenext operation. The endless band, 2, is so adjusted that the wire willbe fed over the notches, 3, so that when the wire is cut the needleblank will lie in the notch, 3, and he carried along by the encllessband. In order that the wire may enter into the notches, 3, I providethe guide, 27, as shown in Figs. 17, 18 and 19, somewhat of a funnelshape, sothat as the Wire is fed into the machine, it will drop into thenotches as desired.

The endless band is moved by mechanism located at the finishing end.

34 is a beveled gear mounted upon the shaft 32.

is a beveled gear wheel meshing with the beveled gear wheel 34 andmounted fixedly on a smaller shaft, 36, at right angles with shaft 32.37 is a crank disk mounted upon said shaft 36. I

38 is a link attached by a pivot, 39, to one side of the disk 37, sothat when the disk 37 revolves, it will move the link 38 horizontallybackward and forward.

40 is a lever pivoted at 41, and attached to the link 38, so that whenthe disk 37 revolves, it will operate said lever. 42 is a (log attachedto the other end of said lever by the pivot 43. 44 is the head of saiddog, having a shoulder or tooth adapted to en gage the projectionsforming the notches upon the endless band, as shown in Fig. 75.

45 is a plate located under the dog, 42, and

and rocking shaft, 25, and con- I millers.

use six millers.

adapted, when raised, to lift the dog free from the projections upon theendless band, 2. 46 is a lever pivoted at 47 to some portion ofthe frameof the machine.

48 is a roller upon the end of the lever 46. 49 is a cam mounted uponthe shaft 32 and so located that at each revolution, the large part ofthe cam will come in contact with the roller, 48, and operate the lever46. 50 is a lever, one end of which operates the plate 45. This lever 50is pivoted near the center to a substantial part of the machine as shownin Fig. 9. 51 is a spring attached to said lever upon the opposite sideof the pivot from said plate 45, and adapted to raise said plate andhold said dog free from said endless band. Said parts operate saidendless band as follows: As the shaft, 32, revolves the beveled gear 34operates the gear 35. Each turn operates the crank disk, 37, and alsooperates the lever 40 and pushes the dog 42 in the position of thedotted lines shown in Fig. 7 5. In the meanwhile, as .the cam 49,revolves at the same time it operates the lever 46 so as to lower theplate 45 which allows the head of the dog to engage the endless bandand, as the disk 37 continues to revolve, it moves the endless band adistance equal to the distance between two sets of notches, or onespace. The cam and other parts are so timed and arranged that the dogwill move the endless hand one space at each revolution., The variousoperations in the construction of the needle must necessarily take placewhile the band is at rest. Therefore thedog, 42, is so arranged that thehead of the dog will not engage the band for the first half of itsforward movement. While it goesback the space of two notches it is heldby the plate 45 away from the band long enough to only engage the bandfor a sufficientpart of its forward movement to move the band a singlespace. This is done by the proper adjustment of the cam 49. Then theband remains stationary substantially three-fourths of the time and isin motion only one-fourth of the time. After the needle blank has beencut off and the shank turned down, as above described, the endless bandcarries the needle blank to the There may be as many millers as desiredto grind off one side of the needle fiat and for the desired length. Ipreferably These millers are designated 53 in the drawing. As the needlecomes under the first miller a post, 64, holds the needle firm againstthe under side of the miller, and the finger, 63, engages the shank ofthe needle and keeps the needle from turning, and the two hold theneedle firmly while being milled. The second miller is two spaces beyondthe first miller and the endless band moves the needle one space andallows the needle to stop between the two millers and while in thisposition the shover, (31, engages the end of the needle and shoves itlengthwise in the notches of the endless band, a sufiicient distance sothat the second miller will mill the side of the needle at the pointwhere the first miller left off, and in this way as many successivemillers may be used as desired to continue the milling of the needle asfar as desired.

The operation of these parts is as follows: Special reference being madeto Figs. 22 to 27, inclusive, as well as Figs. 5 and 8. The finger, 63,is operated from the cam, 67, which is mounted upon the shaft, 32. Thepost, 68, has a roller, 69, mounted in the lower end of it, and thisroller, 69, is held in contact with the cam, 67, by the spring, 70.lVhen the roller, 69, is in contact with the small side of the cam, 67,the finger, 63, will be in the raised position, as shown in Fig. 25. Theend of finger, 63, is provided with a groove or recess which fits uponthe shank of the needle. As the cam, 67, revolves it raises the post,68, which raises the end of the arm, 71, said arm being extended from aplate, 72, which is secured to the rocking shaft, (35, which rocks inthe supports, 66. Attached to said plate, 72, are as many fingers, 63,as there are millers, and as the post, 68, is raised by the cam, 67, itrocks the shaft, 65, so as to lower the plate, 72, carrying the fingers,63. The movement of the cam is so regulated that as the needle comesunder the miller the finger will descend and grasp the shank of theneedle and hold it firmly while the milling operation takes place, andas the shaft, 32, continues to revolve the finger will release theneedle in timefor the next movement of the endless band. At the sametime while the finger is holding the needle under the miller the post,641, is holding the needle firmly against the under side of the miller.The post, 64, is operated by the cam, 73, which is also mounted upon theshaft, 32, and operates the arm, 7 at, which rocks on the shaft, 77. Theextension or lug, 78, of the arm 74-, is provided with a set screw, 79,which acts against the under side of the plate, 80. Attached to theplate, 80, is the plate, 81, and attached to the plate, 81, are as manyposts, 64, as there are millers. Said posts being adjustable by means ofthe set screws, 82. The arm, 74, is provided with a spring, 85, uponwhich rests the block, 75, in the end of which is mounted the roller,76, which is held in contact with the cam, 7 3, by the spring, 83. 84 isa set screw for the purpose of adjusting the position of the arm, 74, soas to regulate the length of time the post, 64, holds the needle againstthe miller.

When the roller, 7 6, is in contact with the small side of the cam, 73,the post, 64:, will be away from the needle, as shown in Fig. 25. As thecam revolves and the large part of the cam comes in contact with theroller,

76, it will press down the arm, 75, and the arm, 74, which will turn onthe rocking shaft, 77, and elevate the lug, 78, which will arise thepost, 80, carrying the plate, 81, and the block, (A, and the block, 64,will hold the needle firmly against the miller, as shown in Fig. 26. Itis obvious that the pressure of the block, 64, against the needle mustbe very nicely adjusted, since the needle is so thin that if the block,(34-, should press it a little too long the miller would grind away theentire needle. This adjustment is regulated by the spring, 85, and theset screw, 84, as above stated. The larger side of the cam, 73,increases slightly as the cam revolves upon the roller, 7 (3, so as tokeep the pressure of the block, 64;, continuous as the miller cuts, andraises the block, 64, very slightly as the miller revolves. The movementis adjusted to take place while the needle is under the miller, the sameas when the finger comes down to hold the needle in place.

The millers are mounted upon the shaft, 52, which is mounted inbearings, 54:, 5.4, and driven by power independent from the rest of themachinery.

As the endless band moves the needle from the middle it moves it onespace, and stops during that stop the shover, 61, moves the needle alongfar enough for the next miller to operate upon it. This shover isoperated by cam, 57, mounted upon the main shaft, 32, which cam operatesthe arm 58, as shown in Fi g. 29, which operates the rocking shaft, 55.Attached to the rocking shaft, 55, is the arm, 56. Attached to the arm,56, is the spring, 59, which holds the arm, 58 against the cam, 57.Mounted upon the arm, 56, is the plate, 60, and attached to the plate,60, are as many shovels, 61, as are necessary to move the needles alongfor each succeeding miller. Each one of these shovels has an end bentup, (32, as shown in Fig. 22, so arranged that cam, 57, will operate thearm, 58, and press the shover against the needle, while it is betweenthe two millers and while the band is at rest, and move the needle alongas far as desired.

After the needles have been milled they are carried by the endless bandto'the cutter for eyes to be punched or cut in the needles. The punchmay be of any desirable form, but 1 preferably use a wheel, 86, locatedin the lower end of post, 87, which is secured in the vertical or frontpart of rocking plate, 88, which is mounted on the shaft, 89. This plateis operated by the eccentric, 90, which is mounted upon the main shaft,32.

91 is an arm attached to the eccentric, 90, and connects it with therocking plate, 88, by means of the pin, 92, so that as the shaft, 32,revolves it carries the eccentric, 90, with it, which operates the arm,91, which operbefore it reaches the next miller, and I lot)

